Humidifier



R. B. MILLS HUMIDIFIER May 29, 1951 Filed May 26, 1948 Patented May 29, 195i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,554,868 HUMIDIFIER Ralph B. Mills, Pawtucket. R. I., assignor to The Standard Engineering Works, Pawtucket, R. I., a corporation of Rhode Island Application May 26, 1948, Serial No. 29,230 4 Claims. (Cl. 26130) highly satisfactory and effective for the vaporization of water by mechanical action, and under I most working conditions provides very efiicient distribution of the vapor particles throughout the adjacent space without observable wetting down. The patented apparatus comprises a fan so arranged as to deliver a powerful current of air downwardly into the region in which the water vapor is evolved. The apparatus also includes a shallow deflector pan having an upwardly and out- :wardly inclined bottom Wall upon which the air from the fan impinges. The air current is thereby deflected just at the point at which the water vapor is evolved and carries the water vapor along with it in an upwardly and outwardly divergent annular stream. So long as the apparatus is employed in a high-ceilinged room and at a substantial distance from ceiling or walls, wetting down does not occur. However, it has been observed that if the apparatus be used where it must be \close to the ceiling or to a vertical wall or the like some wetting down may occur. Apparently this is due to the fact that when so located, the moisture-laden air which is delivered in an upward direction strikes the ceiling or adjacent vertical surface and is thereby deflected back to the intake of the fan, which picks it up and returns it to the vapor evolving zone where it receives further moisture and eventually becomes so overcharged that the moisture particles coalesce and form droplets which gravitate out of the air and cause wetting.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a humidifier of the above type, useful in low-ceilinged rooms or restricted spaces and which, when so located, shows notendency to cause wetting down of adjacent areas; A further z object'is to provide means of simple and inexpensive type whereby an existing humidifier, substantially like that disclosed in the aforesaid patent, may readily be modified for use in a low- 'ceilinged room or any restricted space so that it will not cause any wetting down. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical section showing a humidifier of the type disclosed in Patent No. 1,812,356, modified in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a bafile constituting a part of the humidifier in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an edge elevation of the bafile of Fig. 2 viewed from the left-hand side of the latter figure;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation illustrating one desirable embodiment of the improved humidifier in a workroom; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section, illustrating a modified form of atomizing disk.

Referring to the drawings, the letter H desig- V nates the humidifier as a whole. This humidifier, except for the particular improvements forming the immediate subject matter of the present invention, may be identical with that shown in the aforesaid patent to Mills, 1,812,356, although it is to be understood that the principal Of the present invention is applicable to humidifiers of other specific. constructions.

As here illustrated, the humidifier comprises a base I which may conveniently be made of brass, bronze, stainless steel, plastic or other material not readily corroded by moisture or by salt or chemicals dissolved in the water used. This base member is preferably basin-like in shape and is adapted to hold a supply of water or such other liquid as is to be vaporized. This basin or base I is furnished with a downwardly projecting hollow boss 2 preferably at its center. This boss is internally screw-threaded and adapted to receive the upper end of a water-supply pipe 3. As shown, this pipe is part of a controlling valve by means of which the water supply for the humidifier unit rmay be controlled. However, this valve is not essential and may be dispensed with. The pipe 3 forms !a branch of a supply main 4 which, as illustrated in Fig. 4, may be supported in any suitable way, for example upon the columns which carry the ceiling B of the millroom. This supply main 4 is disposed at such height as to support the humidifier at the proper elevation, the pipe, as illustrated in Fig. 4, constituting the main support for the humidifier. Preferably the supply main 4 receives water from :a tank I provided with a valve (not shown) automatically controlled to maintain a constant water level in the tank. This level is indicated in Fig. 4 by the broken line B and would be common to all humidifier units mounted upon the main 4. Preferably this water level is so adjusted as to lie about midway of the depth of the base I of the humidifier. While the weight of the humidifying unit is mostly carried by the pipe 4, it may be desirable to provide steadying means to prevent the unit from vibrating or swaying. To this end the base I is furnished with a plurality of outstanding ears In which receive the lower ends of brace rods I extending upwardly to the. ceiling. These brace rods may be provided with turn-buckles I2 for adjustment.

To facilitate cleaning the humidifier basin, a shallow dish-like lining member I3 made. of sheet brass, stainless steel or other non-corrosive material is arranged to fit loosely within the basin or base member I. This lining I3 is provided with a marginal, substantially horizontal rim which rests upon a substantially horizontal seat surface I5 at the upper edge of the base member I. The rim of the basin I is preferably provided with an upstanding centering flange I6and the lining member I3 fits within this flange.

The lining member I3 has a central opening I'I at its bottom defined by an upwardly directed flange I8. This flange I8 constitutes centering means for a cylindrical wall member I9 whose lower edge engages the bottom of the member I3 and which projects up substantially .to the level of the rim of the lining member. This wall I9 is perforated or preferably made of wire netting and defines a central well wherein the water is kept free of lint and other dirtby the surrounding wall I9. If lint or dirt collects in the annular space surrounding the strainer or.well 19, the lining member I3 may be removed and replaced by a clean lining in a few minutes time.

An annular grid member 20 fits inside of the flange I6 of the basin I. If the lining I3 is employed, the lower edge of this grid seats upon the rim of the lining member. If the latter is not used, the lower edge of the grid rests directly upon the surface I5. The grid 20 is preferably cylindrical and of corrosion-resistant material, for example sheet brass or stainless steel. This grid comprises a series of substantially vertical spaced bars, vanes or louvres which are inclined with respect to radial planes. Preferably these bars or vanes are integral with the sheet material fonming the body of the grid and merge at their upper and lower ends with continuous ringlike portions of the grid structure. The grid thus devised may be made from sheet metal by a stamping or similar operation and as the vanes are securely anchored at top and bottom the grid structure is very rigid and the predetermined angle of the vanes is accurately maintained.

The grid 20 supports a cover member '24 which is preferably integral with or at least permanently united to the upper part of the grid. This cover comprises downwardly and outwardly inclined annular faces united at a substantially vertical shoulder 21. The coveris substantially imperforate (except for such openings as are necessary for the reception of certain parts hereinafter described), and the space between the cover and the bottom of the basin I is substantially closed except for the openings provided between the vanes of the grid. The cover 24 constitutes a support for the motor and other moving parts of the apparatus.

As shown, the electric motor 28 has a base 3| provided with a plurality, usually three, of pins 29 which project downwardly therefrom 'and through correspondinng openings in the cover 24. The pins fit loosely in these openings and are encircled by resilient washers interposed between the base 3| and the cover 24. This arrangement allows the motor to nutate freely so that its shaft and the parts carried thereby are free to move and to assume a position for any given speed at which all of the forces acting at an angle to the axis of rotation are substantially balanced. The

.motor and other rotating parts may thus be run at high speed without producing excessive vibration or noise.

The motor shaft 32 projects downwardly through the base I and the cover 24 and at its lower end carries the atomizing disk 33. This disk may be of any suitable material capable of rotating at high speed, for example, sheet brass or stainless steel. This disk is furnished with a downwardlyv directed conical member 34. This conical member 34 projects down into the well defined by the screen I9 and, as the disk 33 rotates, picks up water by centrifugal action and draws it upwardly to the undersurface of the disk 3.3. Preferably the disk 33 is so placed on the shaft that its outer edge is in a plane substantially midway between the upper and lower edges of the grid 20. While a disk 33 such as shown in Fig. 5 may be used (the disk being like that illustrated in Fig. 1 of the. above-patent to Mills 1,812,356) it is preferred, as a practical matter, to use the plain disk 33 (like that shown inFig. 6 of the above patent). When the disk is rotated, water from the'well is drawn upwardly to the under surface of the disk and'delivered centrifugally with great forceagainst the vanes 2| where the major part of it is'broken up intoexceedingly fine particles forming afog'or mist. A fan 39 is arranged at the upper end of the motor shaft, above the motor, and is designed to direct a current of air downwardly. Preferably this fan is enclosed within a wire guard 40 to prevent accidental contact of the fan blades with outside objects. As the motor 28 is coaxial with the fan 39 and-in the path of the air current, the latter is constrained to assume the. form ofa hollow annular stream. For guiding this stream there is preferably-provided adeflector shell 4| extending from a point near the upper part of the motor casing downwardly to the cover 26 and preferably fitting'snugly against the. shoulder 21 of the latter. This shell 4| is of sheet metal, for example brass or stainless steel, and increases or flares in diameter from its upper toward its lower end so that the annular air stream increases in diameter as it descends. This descending air-stream is unconfined circumferen-tially so that it is free to move outwardly.

There is also provided an annular deflector 42 of appropriate material, for example, stainless steel or a plastic, having an-inner marginal flange. which fits against the flange I6 of the basin Ito which it is. secured in any desired manner. This deflector '42 flares outwardly and upwardly, its inner edge being adjacent to, al-

though slightly spaced from, the outer surface .of the grid '20, said lower .or inneredge of the deflector being in a planev slightly below the plane of the atomizer disk. However, the upper or outer edge E of the deflector 42 lies in a plane above that of the atomizing disk. As illustrated, the slope of this deflector is approximately 15 to the horizontal. .7

As above described the water,.centrifugally ex,- pelled by the disk, is broken up by impact with the vanes into the fog. orv mist. which passes through the vanes and enters the .space at the lower part of the deflector. Under some 0011-? ditions of temperature or atmospheric humidity some of this fog or mist will condense and form droplets of substantial size upon theuppcr surface of the deflectors Moreover, the atomizing .action is not perfect so that some water particles of appreciable size are expelled outwardly between the vanes and deposited upon the upper surface of the deflector. When, as described in the above patent to Mills, the downwardly directed air current from the fan impinges upon the upper surface of, the deflector, it tends to sweep away any droplets of water from the upper surface of the deflector and to eject them from the apparatus as particles of such size that they are not absorbed bythe air but fall like rain and wet the surroundings, o v In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bafile 41 arranged to divert the downwardly flowing air stream S delivered by the fan so as to cause said stream to flow horizontally outwardly before it can impinge upon the upper surface of the deflector 42. This baille 41 is here shown as a fiat ring or annulus having a large central opening 48 (Fig. 2) which receives the deflector shell 4|, This annulus 41 is preferably of sheet metal, for example brass, stainless steel or the like, although it is contemplated that it vmay be of other material, for example a plastic. However, this annulus should be resilient and capable of being warped outof its normal plane and of resuming its original shape when released. To permit such warping or flexing the annulus is split radially as shown at 50 in Fig. 2, and preferably provided with slots 5| and 52 of substantial width, for example t; inch, extending from the central. aperture 48 outwardly, for example, two-fifths of thedistance, from the inner to the outer edge of the annulus and on the same diameter as the split 50. Brackets 53 and 54 (Fig. 3) are secured to the upper surface of this annulus at opposite sides of the split 50 and these brackets are provided with apertures for the receptionof a bolt 55 by means of which the margins of the annulus'at opposite sides of the split 50 may be drawntogether and relatively fixed. The annular baffle 41 is provided with legs 49, three such legs here being shown. The lower ends of theselegs rest upon the upper surface of the deflector 42. These legs are preferably. of adjustable length and are usually so adjusted that the annulus does not actually contact the shell 4|. I V When the direction of the air current from the fan is suddenly changed by contact with the baf-, fie a zone of negative pressure or suction is created just below the outer edge of thebaflle and thesuction thus produced affects the rate of evolution of vapor. Were the air volume delivered by the fan the same for all conditions of use, it would be possible for the manufacturer-of the humidifier to fix the baffle once for all in the most advantageous position. However the volume of air delivered by the fan is affected by the distance between the fan and the ceilingclose proximity substantially reducing the amount of air delivered. Thus it is desirable to provide for vertical adjustment of the baflle relatively'to the deflector 42 in order to coordinate variations in fan output, atomizing pressures and the suction effect. As here shown, the legs 40 are capable of effective variations in length of approximately one inch, and the baflie is located approximately one inch above the plane of the outer edge of the deflector 41 and approximately seven inches below the fan hub, which is a desirable arrangement in a humidifier of the size and atomizing capacity illustrated, but these dimensions are to be regarded as examples of good practice and not as restrictive. As deflectors 42 may be of different diameters in different installations according to the size of the humidifier, the bafiles 4! should correspondingly vary in diameter. Adiameter ratio of approximately 17 to 26 is found. effective andnis here illustrated. The slots 5| and 52 are of a width such as to accommodate the brace rods H above described. In applying the annular baffle 41 to an existing humidifier, the bolt 55 is removed and those portions of the baffie which lie at opposite sides of the slit are moved in opposite diretions so asto flex or twist the annulus out of its normal plane, thus greatly increasing the distance between the parts of the annulus at opposite sides of the split 50. Sufficient space may thus be provided to permit the annulus to be slipped over one of the brace rods ll then over the deflector shell 4!, and then over the other brace rod, the annulus then being released so that it resiliently resumes itsnormal flat shape. The bolt is then introduced and tightened, thus holding the baflle in a plane. The legs 49 are seated upon the deflector 42, thus supporting the battle substantially in the position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the plane of the bafiie 4'! is below that of the fan but above that of the outer edge E of the deflector 42. The air current S from the fen-passing downwardly over the shell 4!, en-

'gages theupper surface of the bafile 47 and is diverted so as to flow outwardly in a strong horizontal expanding annular stream S The fog or mist, indicated at S (Fig. 1), which emerges from between the vanes of the grid slowly moves up along the upper surface of the deflector 42v where it fills the space immediately below the baffle 41. This fog or mist is eventually caught up by the horizontally flowing deflected stream S from the fan. The moisture-bearing air stream which is thus delivered horizontally, will not impinge upon a low ceiling and, even if it strike an adjacent vertical wall, has little inherent tendency to curl backwardly so as to circulate toward the intake of the fan. Thus there is no chance for the air to become overcharged with moisture and wetting down of surroundings is avoided. Moreover, since the air stream from the fan does not strike the deflector it can not sweep away water drops resting upon the upper surface of the deflector and thus these drops are not ejected in the form of rain onto the surroundings.

While it has heretofore been attempted to attain the effects resultant from the use of the simple and inexpensive bafile herein described, said prior suggestions have been by way of relatively expensive and complicated apparatus. .Qne prior proposal has been to use a fan having blades of variable pitch, but 'whenvsuch-aran is adjusted for use with a low ceiling, the: air vol-'- ume delivered is reduced, with a corresponding reduction in the efliciency of hum-idiflcation. Moreover, such an arrangement 'does not help :in reducing air turbulence in the region of humidification, whereas, the present devicetsubstantia'lly eliminates turbulence by discharging 'the'body of air in a substantially horizontal direction and "in a smooth annular stream.

By the use of the present simple battle, the air from the fan is caused to exert'an aspirating action at the point of .fogformation, increasing the rate of evolution of fog or mist. While the bafile here disclosed is a simple horizontal fiat plate, spaced a substantial distance below the fan, it is obvious that baffles of specifically different forms and differently located may be employed provided they accomplish the desired result, to wit, the delivery of the 'moisturecarrying air current in a direction such that it does .not tend to return to the fan intake, even when the humidifier is arranged close to the ceiling.

The baffle 41 as herein described is highly' useful in connection with the humidifier of-theigem eral type described in the Mills Patent 17,812,356, but it is obvious that it may be employed in combination with humidifiers using specifically different vaporizing means but wherein there is an upwardly and outwardly inclined deflector, corresponding to the deflector 42 herein described, and in combination therewith means for delivering a strong current of air downwardly so that it would normally impinge upon the inclined surface of such deflector.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein been illustrated and described by way of example, it is to be understoodthat the invention is broadly inclusive of any andall modifications falling within thescope of theappended claims.

Iclaim:

1. In combination in a humidifier of the 'kind which comprises a substantially verticalshaft, a fan secured to the shaft, the fan-being constructed to deliver air downwardly, a motor-below the fan, a deflecting shell concentric with the'shaft and substantially enclosing'the" motor, said shell causing the air from the fan toflow in an annular unconfined stream, a disk on the shaft below the motor, an imperforate cover member between the disk and motor, the lower edge of the shell fitting snugly against the upper surface of the cover member, means forsupply ing water to the disk, means cooperating with the disk to evolve water vapor a't'apolnt adjacent to the lower end of the shell, and an annular upwardly flaring deflector concentric with the shaft, said deflector having its inner e'dgedisposed adjacent to but below the point at which the water vapor is evolved, a fiat, horizontal, annular bafiie coaxial with the shell and arranged in a plane above the plane of the'outer edge of the deflector, said bafile being operative to divert the air stream and to cause it to m'ov'ehori zontally outwardly across the outer edge ofthe deflector, the baffle being located in a-plaiie which is approximately one-eighth of the distance between the plane of the outeredge of the deflector and the mean plane of the fan blades.

2. In combination in a humidifier of'the' kind which comprises a substantially vertical shaft, a fan secured to the shaft, the'fan'be'ingcon structed to deliver air downwardly, a motoreelow the :fan, a deflecting shell concentric with the shaft and substantially enclosing the motor, said shell causingthe air from the .-fan to flow in an annular unconfined stream, a disk 'on the shaft below the motor, an i'mperforate cover member between the disk and motor, the 'lower edge of theshell fitting snugly against the upper surface of the cover member, means tor-supplying water to the disk, :meanscooperating with the-disk to'evol've water vapor at a oint adjacent to'the loweren'd of the shell, and an annular upwardly flaring deflector concentricwith the shaft, said deflector having its inner edge disposed ad- 'jacen't to but below the point'at which the water vapor isevolveda flat, horizontal, annular baffle coaxial with the shell and arranged in a plane above the plane of the outer edge of the' 'dfie'ctor, said ba'flleb'eingoperativeto divert the air stream andto-cause it to move horizontally outwardly across the outer edge-of the deflector, and-adjustable meansoperative to support the annular baffie.

3. In combination in a humidifier of the kind which comprises a substantially vertical shaft, 2. fan s'ecur'ed'to the shaft, the fan being constructed' to deliver air-downwardly, a motor below the--fan,-a deflecting Shell concentric "with the shaftandsubstantially enclosing the motor, said shell causing the air '-from the fan to flow in an annular unconfined stream, a disk-en'the shaft below the motor, an 'imperforate cover member" between the-disk and motor, the lower edge of the shell fitting-snugly against the upper surface of-the cover member, means for supplying water to the disk, means cooperating with the disk to evolve water vapor'ata'point adjacent to the lower end of the shell, and an annular upwardly fiarin'g' 'defiec'torconcentric with the shaft, said deflector having its inner edge disposed adjacent' to but-below'thepointat which the water vapor-is evolved, a flat,-horizontal, annular baffle coaxial with the shell and arrangedina plane above the plane oithe outeredge-ofthe deflector, 'saidbafile being operative to divert the air stream and-to cause itto move'horizontallyoutwardl'y'a'cross the outer edge of the deeectemhe baffle being of resilient sheet'metal and having a central'aperture of a size-to receive the shell, thebaflle being radially"split-toenable it to be assembled withthe'otherparts-of the humidifier, and means for uniting the opposite margins of the baflle at the's'plit.

4. In'combination in a humidifier of the kind which comprises a substantially vertical, rotary shaft, a fan-operative to deliverair downw'ardly, a motor for driving the fan, a deflecting shell concentricwith the shaft, said shell housing the motor and causing mean from the fan to flow in an annular stream, a pairof substantially parallel diametrically spaced brace rods substantially parallel with the shaft, 'a'disk on the shaft below the shell, an imperforate' cover of adiamet'er greater than that of the disk-interpo'sed'between the disk and the motora'nd which forms the roof-of asubstarit'ially air-tight chamber within the shell, means for supplying water to the disk, means cooperating with the disk to evolve water vapor'at apoint adjacent"to the loweren'd of the shell-,an ahnular upwardly "flaring deflector concentricwith the shaft and in the-normal path of said air'str'e'a'm, 'saiddeflec tor having its iriner edge disposedadjacerit'to but below" thepoint-at whichwater is evolved, and a baffle comprising 'a'substantially flat an nular plate ofresilieht 'sheet material normally coaxial with the fan shaft and located below the fan and above the plane of the outer edge of the deflector, the central aperture in said bafiie plate being of a size to receive the motor housing shell, the baffle plate being disposed in the path of the air stream delivered by the fan and being so located as to divert the air stream from the fan and cause it to move horizontally across the outer edge of the deflector, the baflle having radial slots for the reception of the brace rods, and being radially split to permit it to be warped out of its normal plane in applying it to the humidifier.

RALPH B. MILLS.

1o REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

